Corporate Tax in Lake Forest, California

In Lake Forest, California, a "corporation" is defined as a legal entity that's separate from its owners. So, from a legal standpoint, the owner of a corporation and the corporation itself are not the same "person."

This rule is called "corporate personhood." Basically, under the law of California, corporations are, in many ways, the same as individual human beings. So, corporations have some of the same legal rights and obligations as actual people.

One of a corporation's primary legal obligations is its duty to pay income taxes, as an actual person would.

Corporate Tax Rate in Lake Forest, California

Virtually every for-profit corporation in the U.S. is required to pay taxes on its income each year. Most states also have their own corporate income tax. All corporations in Lake Forest, California are required to pay it.

Under the federal tax system, and the tax laws of some states, corporate income is taxed at a different rate from the income of individuals. For example, the top federal income tax rate for corporations is 35%, compared with 33% for individuals. The highest tax rate applies to corporations making more than $18.3 million per year. The lowest corporate tax rate is 15%, applying to those corporations that make less than $50,000 per year.

In California the corporate tax rate probably differs from the individual tax rate as well. In many states, policymakers have determined that the local economy benefits most when it is business-friendly. In those states, the corporate tax rate is typically lower than the individual income tax rate, unlike the federal system, where the corporate tax rate is higher.

In Lake Forest, California, corporations must pay both the federal and state corporate income tax. Failing to pay these taxes can result in severe punishment, including huge fines which can put a corporation out of business.

How Can a Lake Forest, California Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

The majority of big corporations have accountants, tax lawyers, and other legal/financial specialists on staff to ensure that they comply with state and national corporate tax laws.

As most business owners know, however, the majority of small Lake Forest corporations can't afford to have attorneys on staff full time. So, if you run a small corporation, and are confused about the corporate tax issues that may affect you, it's a very good idea to retain the services of a Lake Forest, California tax attorney immediately.